SuperConference Summary
The 1998 NAA Newspaper Operations SuperConference, held Jan. 11-16 in Miami Beach, was one for the record books.
Nearly 770 newspaper operations staffers-the largest number to date-flocked to a city that, much like their own industry, remains in transition. "From the front door to the loading dock, we are simply getting better at what we do," said NAA Chairman David C. Cox.
Below are brief overviews of each SuperConference segment, abstracts of selected speeches, and information on how to order audio tapes.
PRE-PRESS SEGMENT
While pre-press attendees caught glimpses of such futuristic technologies as semi-intelligent online search agents, the segment's keynote speaker warned attendees that the leading edge may be worse than the bleeding edge.
Placing the blame for drops in productivity growth squarely on the shoulders of the information-technology revolution, University of Colorado psychology professor Thomas K. Landauer stressed the need to study economic benefits of new tools.
"This business is just beginning a major shift in technology," said Landauer. "Ask your vendors to prove it will be more efficient and productive."
The Road to Pagination
Intranet publishing-Chris Gulker, Apple Computer Inc. manager of publishing-industry strategic relations; Lotus Notes/Quark-based publishing and computer-to-plate-Larry Maas, group production director and plant manager, Howard Publishing Group; The state of Latin American pagination-Diego Rovito, vice president, NewsTech Co.
The Magic of Merlin: New Ways to Get the News
Overview of agent technology-Chris Feola, director, the Media Center, American Press Institute.
New Trends in Handling Ads
Digital-ad case study-Joe Valenti, systems director, The New York Times; Classified-pagination case study-Gerry Moher, director of production, The Globe and Mail; Ad-management case study-Ian Scott, assistant to general manager, The Chronicle-Herald.
New Media Bonus Session
Overviews of online classified systems, graphics, customized tools and content-management systems-David Beck, NAA director of media technology; Mike George, vice president, business development, Junglee Corp.; Rocco Rossi, vice president of strategic planning and new media, The Toronto Star; Scott Horner, assistant graphics director, The Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale; Chris Lavelle, electronic media manager, The Arizona Republic; Patty Harper, senior product manager for FutureTense Inc.; and Marc Lurie, director of channel marketing, Vignette Corp.
HEALTH AND SAFETY SEGMENT
While the usual regulatory alphabet soup-OSHA, EPA and so on-peppered the segment, attendees also considered workplace changes, including managed-care health plans, decentralizing in-house safety programs, the increased need to train line managers, and the growing trend toward cost-benefit justification.
"Will you adapt your management styles to these trends, or become a dinosaur?" asked Donald Hensel, NAA manager of environmental services.
Ergonomics at Your Newspaper
OSHA's plans for the new federal ergonomics standard-David J. Cochran, professor, Department of Labor OSHA; The impact of Cal/OSHA's ergonomics standard, the nation's first-Diana Rich, workers compensation manager, Freedom Communications Inc.
Environmental Case Studies
Cleaning shop towels on site-Nancy Devine, environmental, health and safety manager, Star Tribune; Silver recycling-Vitas Normantas, corporate health and safety director, Guy Gannett Communications; Silver recovery-Jenny Peters, senior vice president of regulatory affairs, Silver Council; Health and safety audits-Richard Neergaard, safety director, Richmond Newspapers Inc.
Safety Issues for Newspapers
Newspaper noise levels, quiet rooms and enclosures-Gary S. Figallo, product manager, Industrial Acoustics Co.; Cart-handling safety and training-David Ferguson, safety and workers- compensation manager, San Diego Union-Tribune; Aggressive driving and road rage-Patrick J. Healey, manager, state DDC program development, National Safety Council; Proposed OSHA forklift and powered truck training and evaluation standard-Jose Sanchez, OSHA area director; Professional development for health and safety professionals-Donald Hensel, NAA manager of environmental services.
PRESS AND MATERIALS SEGMENT
The pace at which new technologies move from the drawing board to the pressroom continues accelerating, speakers told attendees. Consider how shaftless technology has moved from the extreme to the mainstream.
"Within the next two-to-three years, the majority of presses sold will be shaftless," predicted Vince Lapinski, vice president of newspaper sales for MAN Roland Inc. The next technological leap, digital printing, still waits in the wings, but related single-fluid lithography used on a concept press manufactured by Goss Graphic Systems will find its way into newspaper tests next year.
Hot New Technologies
Automatic imposition system-James Grotevant, president, PTI Inc.; Shaftless drives and printing-Jim Hulman, printing industry end-user account executive, Indramat; Color registration system-Bob MacKenzie, president, UMI; Digital concept press-Al Sheng, vice president of technology global development, Goss Graphic Systems Inc.
Maximizing Personnel in Your Plant
Team-based peer review process-Robert Velasco, national customer service, USA Today; Staffing and restructuring case study-John Martin, press operations and maintenance manager, The Virginian-Pilot; Apprenticeship program case study-Roger Lambert, press maintenance manager, Chicago Tribune.
Focus on Facilities
Centralized production facilities case study-Paul Spiers, plant manager, Premier Printing of Central Ohio Inc.; Conversion from letterpress to flexo-Bob Burns, vice president of operations, The Charlotte Observer; Expanding press color and page capacity-Jim Catron, press manager, The Orlando Sentinel.
POST-PRESS SEGMENT
As databases become the industry buzzword, NAA Vice Chairman Richard D. Gottlieb began the post-press segment with a warning. "Sears knows more about our subscribers than we do," he said. "Are we adopting the same data-mining techniques our customers are using to customize our products?"
Customers want more targeted distribution now, speakers warned. Even though the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, Ill., burns 5,300 plates a week for 23 zoned editions, advertisers still frequently seek ways to drill down further, observed Production Director Jerry Schur.
One new tool comes from the pressroom: shaftless. Along with allowing more targeting options and higher speed, the opportunity to use common drive technology throughout production could simplify maintenance and training, argued Patrick Dvorak, national-account manager for Indramat.
Best Practices in Packaging and Distribution
Microzoning case study-Jerry Schur, director of production, Daily Herald; Targeted mail and total-market coverage-Vincent Casanova, vice president of manufacturing and distribution, Chicago Tribune;Logistics and transportation-Robert Glenn, director of product development, Ryder Integrated Logistics; Assembling completes/cart systems-Joe Knight, home delivery manager, The Miami Herald.
Automation and Productivity
Automation and ROI-David Thurm, vice president of production, The New York Times; Productivity measurements-Judy Oliver, process consultant, Blevins Harding Group; System integration and data warehousing-Steve Hannah, vice president, information technology, The Gazette; European approach to newspaper packaging-Jan Hedenstad, managing director, Schibsted Trykk.
For a list of additional SuperConference segments and abstracts, visit TechNews' Web site (http://www.naa.org/technews). Order tapes from ACTS Inc., 14153 Clayton Road, Town & Country, Mo. 63011; phone, (800) 642-2287 or (314) 394-0611; fax, (314) 394-9381.